Segment guide for typewriters and similar machines

ABSTRACT

A segment guide for typewriters and similar machines having a pin defining a prism-shaped recess mounted on the machine frame, and a slide element which cooperates with the prism. The slide element is rotatably adjustably mounted on the segment by a pin.

United States Patent Werner et a1. 14 1 Oct. 10, 1972 SEGMENT GUIDE FOR TYPEWRITERS [5 6] References Cited AND SIMILAR MACHINES UNITED STATES PATENTS [72] m ifgg gi 'g g g ggf 968,060 8/1910 Knox ..197/74 x many 2,226,931 12/1940 I-IeImond ..197/74 1 3] A ignee: Olympia Werke AG, Wil- FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS "dmshavem Germany 318,805 2/1920 Germany ..197/74 [22] Filed: May 8, 1970 1,138,797 10/1962 Germany ..197/41 [211 App]' 35,663 Primary Examiner-Emest Wright, Jr.

Attorney-Spencer& Kaye [30] Foreign Application Priority Data 57 ABS CT May 14, 1969 Germany ..D 19 24 602.7 1

A segment guide for typewriters and similar machines [52] US. Cl ..197/41, 197/74 having a pin defining a prism-shaped recess mounted [51] Int. Cl. ..B4lj 7/22 on the machine frame, and a slide element which [58] Field of Search ..197/4i, 71, 72, 74 cooperates with the prism, The slide element is rotatably adjustably mounted on the segment by a pin.

6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTED 10 9 INVENTORS Georg Werner Derlef Kunst ATTORNEYS.

SEGMENT GUIDE FOR TYPEWRITERS AND SIMILAR MACHINES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a segment guide for shifting the segment in typewriters and similar machines.

Segment guides are known which are formed by two guide elements each defining a prism-shaped recess and enclosing a roller element between them. One of the guide elements is attached to the segment and the other is attached to the machine frame.

Embodiments of segment guides using rollers as described above have the disadvantage, however, that the manufacture of the required hardened and polished guide element is complicated and, thus, relatively expensive. In addition, the impact of the type bars and the shifting action of the segment both produce unpleasant and interfering noises which are transmitted to the machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a segment guide which is preferable to the known embodiments by its extraordinary simplicity, and by the low cost of producing and installing it in typewriters and similar machines.

This object is accomplished according to the present invention by providing slide elements at the segment instead of the roller elements of the known embodiments. These slide elements are preferably constructed of a synthetic material and are shaped to be guided in the known guide elements disposed on the frame of the machine. 1

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing one embodiment of a segment guide according to the present invention.

FIG. la is a cross-sectional view of a detail of FIG. 1 showing the slide element pin disposed in the type bar segment.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view, partly in cross section, of a second embodiment of a segment guide according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS It is here noted that all insignificant parts, as concerns the present invention, of the machine have been eliminated from the drawing, so that only the significant parts are shown.

FIG. 1 shows a type bar segment 1, (type bars not shown) which is of the general type commonly used with typewriters and has remote end portions 4,4. Segment 1 is arranged between a pair of pedestals 2, 2' which are attached to the machine frame. Pedestals 2, 2' are provided with pins 2a, 2b respectively, which define prism-shaped recesses 2c, 2d. Pins 2a, 2b are guide elements and are mounted in bores 2e of pedestals 2, 2' and are dimensioned to be axially and rotatably adjustable in them.

The segment 1 of FIG. 1 defines lateral surfaces forming prism-shaped recesses 1a, lb having respective bores 1c, 1d at its respective end portions 4, 4'. Slide elements 3, 3a are shaped as double trihedral prisms and have pins 3b, 3c respectively, mounted at one of their apexes, so that slide elements 3, 30 may be adjustably mounted in bores 10, 1d respectively.

Slide elements 3, 3a have the shape of a double trihedral prism so that they may cooperate with recesses la, lb respectively, and pins 2a, 2b respectively. This results in a single guide being made up of a slide element 3 or 3a mounted between a recess la or lb and a guide element 2a or 2b. The slide elements 3, 3a are preferably made of a suitable synthetic material, for example, of a heat-hardenablc synthetic material, and the pins 2a, 2b are constructed in the conventional manner of a hardened material such as hardened steel. The slide elements 3, 3a are constructed from a synthetic plastic material.

The pins 3b, 3c are provided with opposed flattened portions 3d, 3e which can be clearly seen in the detail shown in FIG. la. These flattened portions 3d, 32 extend parallel to the lateral edges of the slide elements 3, 3a.

Shifting is accomplished with the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 by a straight movement of the type bar segment 1 according to the so-called three-point system. In this system the slide elements 3, 3a are constructed as double trihedral prisms as indicated above. The pins 3b, 30 provided with the flattened portions 3d, 3e serve to more or less determine the position of the slide elements 3, 3a in the lifting direction of the type bar segment 1. A limited lateral movement is provided in bores 1c, 1d, so that the lateral surfaces of the slide elements 3, 3a come fully to bear in the surface of recesses 1a, lb respectively. The forces exerted by the type bars (not shown) on segment 1 are absorbed by the lateral surfaces of the slide elements 3, 3a. That is, they are seated in the prism-shaped recesses la, lb.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the present invention having a type bar segment 1 which has a squaredoff end surface 1e on end portions 5, instead of the lateral prism-shaped recesses la, lb. It is to be understood that the opposite end portion of the segment 1, which is not shown in FIG. 2, is identical to the end shown. Surface 1e has a bore 1c formed in it.

A slide element 3' has a squared-off surface 3f with a pin 3h mounted symmetrically on it. As can be readily seen from FIG. 2, surfaces 1e and 3f will come flush together. The portion of slide element 3' facing away from surface 3f, is shaped and sized to conform to the surface of guide element 2a.

According to the embodiment of FIG. 2, the shifting of the type bar segment 1' is inevitably accompanied by a slight pivoting movement of segment 1 The slide element 3' which is in flat contact with the type bar segment 1' and pivotable about the axis of pin 3h, is fully able to follow the pivoting movement during the shifting process. The guide shown in FIG. 2 is duplicated at the other end of the segment 1' in the machine. The pin 3h of slide element 3' determines the position of slide element 3' with respect to segment I, and also absorbs, in this embodiment, the forces exerted by the type bars (not shown) on the type bar segment 1'.

As can be seen in the drawing and from the above description, the present invention provides a surprisingly simple solution, which, in addition to permitting the noticeably low production costs, contributes considerably to the reduction of noise in the operation of the machine.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but can also be modified by appropriate changes in the individual features. Thus, it is possible, for example, to have the guide and slide elements shaped as cooperating half-circles, instead of being in the usual prism shape.

It well be understood that the above description of the present invention is susceptable to various modifications, changes and adaptations, and the same are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a segment guide for the segment of a typewriter or similar machine, which guide includes, at each end of the segment, a guide element mounted on the machine frame and having a prism-shaped opening, the improvement comprising a slide element at each end of the segment, each said slide element being disposed between its respective segment end and the guide element associated with the respective segment end and slidably guided in the opening of its associated guide element, each said slide element having an abutment portion and a pin member attached thereto for rotatably, adjustably connecting said slide element to its respective segment end, said abutment portion being engageable with a respective segment end to thereby define a limit position of its slide element with respect to, and in the direction toward, the respective segment end.

2. in a segment guide for the segment of a typewriter or similar machine, which guide includes, at each end of the segment, a guide element mounted on the machine frame and having a prism-shaped opening, the improvement comprising a slide element at each end of the segment, each said slide element: being disposed between its respective segment end and the guide element associated with the respective segment end; having lateral prism-shaped surfaces joined by lateral edges for engagement with mating surfaces on the segment; having a pin member attached thereto and rotatably, adjustably connecting said slide element to its respective segment end; and being slidably guided in the opening of its associated guide element, said pin member having flattened portions parallel to the lateral edges of said slide elements.

3. A segment guide as defined in claim 2, wherein each said slide element is constructed of a heathardenable synthetic material.

4. A segment guide as defined in claim 3, wherein each said guide element is rotatably, adjustably mounted on the machine frame, and is constructed of a hardened steel.

5. A segment guide as defined in claim 1, wherein the prism-shaped opening in each said guide element is defined by two mutually inclined surfaces extending in the general direction of the segment shift and meeting at a line extending in the same direction.

6. A segment guide as defined in claim 1, wherein said pin member is configured for permitting said segment to be laterally displaceable relative to said guide element. 

1. In a segment guide for the segment of a typewriter or similar machine, which guide includes, at each end of the segment, a guide element mounted on the machine frame and having a prismshaped opening, the improvement comprising a slide element at each end of the segment, each said slide element being disposed between its respective segment end and the guide element associated with the respective segment end and slidably guided in the opening of its associated guide element, each said slide element having an abutment portion and a pin member attached thereto for rotatably, adjustably connecting said slide element to its respective segment end, said abutment portion being engageable with a respective segment end to thereby define a limit position of its slide element with respect to, and in the direction toward, the respective segment end.
 2. In a segment guide for the segment of a typewriter or similar machine, which guide includes, at each end of the segment, a guide element mounted on the machine frame and having a prism-shaped opening, the improvement comprising a slide element at each end of the segment, each said slide element: being disposed between its respective segment end and the guide element associated with the respective segment end; having lateral prism-shaped surfaces joined by lateral edges for engagement with mating surfaces on the segment; having a pin member attached thereto and rotatably, adjustably connecting said slide element to its respective segment end; and being slidably guided in the opening of its associated guide element, said pin member having flattened portions parallel to the lateral edges of said slide elements.
 3. A segment guide as defined in claim 2, wherein each said slide element is constructed of a heat-hardenable synthetic material.
 4. A segment guide as defined in claim 3, wherein each said guide element is rotatably, adjustably mounted on the machine frame, and is constructed of a hardened steel.
 5. A segment guide as defined in claim 1, wherein the prism-shaped opening in each said guide element is defined by two mutually inclined surfaces extending in the general direction of the segment shift and meeting at a line extending in the same direction.
 6. A segment guide as defined in claim 1, wherein said pin member is configured for permitting said segment to be laterally displaceable relative to said guide element. 